Every Spring in Chicago, teachers, parents, and professionals from around the world gather to attend the AutismOne / Generation Rescue conference.  Touted as one of the most comprehensive autism conference in the world, attendees are presented with cutting edge information and findings by leading doctors, researchers and therapists.  As an active corporate sponsor of Generation Rescue, Enzymedica was thrilled to be part of this year’s five day event.

“When we began Enzymedica, it was with the goal of creating the highest quality enzyme supplements available,” shares Tom Bohager, Enzymedica’s Founder and Operating Chairman.  “We gave the digestive category a solid foundation with our products such as Digest Gold, Acid Soothe, GlutenEase, and Lacto.  Over the years, it brought us great joy to realize the profound benefits enzymes could provide to individuals dealing with multiple food intolerances, among them countless children on the autism spectrum. This led us to develop products such as CarbGest for phenol digestion, and Digest Spectrum for combination sensitivities to food.”

Enzymedica’s involvement within the autism community led to a scholarship program and nationwide autism education tour that culminated in the establishment of the nonprofit foundation, the Autism Hope Alliance (AHA). Through their work with AHA, Enzymedica increased their educational outreach through annual participation at the AutismOne convention.

Bohager continues, “Early on in my company’s history we became involved in the mission to help these children on the path to better health.  In my business life there has been no greater satisfaction and pleasure than to be able to support and help these families in the autism community.  It was a tremendous privilege to be in attendance at Autism One 2011 and witness so many passionate and inspiring individuals.”

Enzymedica provides support to a national network of autism advocates and inspirational speakers which includes Enzymedica’s Director of Autism Education, Kristin Selby Gonzalez and AHA Heroes(TM), Heidi Scheer, Karen Dana and Angela Woodward.  All four were heavily active at the conference.

“The lectures were well-done, inspiring and full of hope, for which I am sure parents and caregivers were very thankful,” said Kimberlea Barton, Enzymedica’s Branding Manager.  “Among my most memorable parts of the conference were the individual conversations I had with mothers and fathers who have assisted their children well on the way to recovery.”

“Viewing Jenny McCarthy’s Keynote address and speaking to other exhibitors who are all eager to help these families was also inspiring and heartwarming,” says Barton.  “At Enzymedica, we have been honored to support the Autism Community over the years, and this Conference just solidified the importance of what we are doing.”

Digest Spectrum Wins Award

As part of the 2011 convention an amazing award ceremony emceed by Kristin Selby Gonzalez was held to honor the professionals, parents, foundations, and products that are making a measureable difference in the lives of the families facing the autism diagnosis.  Enzymedica is thrilled to announce that Digest Spectrum won the AutismOne Award for Best Supplement 2011.

Among the nominees for Best Supplement were Digest Gold, GlutenEase and ViraStop 2X.   Over 4100 votes were cast, and the winning nominees received their awards at a gala dinner which included a red carpet event.

WholeFoods Magazine featured Pet Health as their cover story in the June 2011 issue. Dave Barton, Enzymedica’s Director of Education, was interviewed for the article and our Pet Digest™ and Thera-blend™ enzymes are recommended.

Quotes:

· Another suggestion of appropriate pet products are enzymes for digestion. According to Dave Barton, director of education for Enzymedica, “Many enzymes are able to perform the same function within a pet’s digestive tract as they do in humans.” Therefore, we can expect pets to benefit from digestive enzymes to “support proper digestion and absorption of nutrients from wet and dry food.” He adds, “Better digestion may lead to better health, more energy and a happier pet.”

· Following strict production guidelines, like FDA’s good manufacturing practices (GMPs) is something that retailers can check with their manufacturers about—and relay such information to shoppers. Says Barton, “All Enzymedica formulas, whether designed for people or animals, are held to the same high GMP standards of manufacturing.”

You can read the entire June 2011 issue online HERE <http://www.wholefoodsmagazineonline.com/grocery/features/be-leader-pack>

June marks the beginning of summer, and according to most magazines, the beginning of swimsuit season. Many women face anxiety about bikini weather because of self-consciousness about bloating and belly fat. If you share any of these feelings, the good news is that you’re not alone. A 2010 survey conducted by the Enzyme Research Group outlines the number of women who feel this way, and the things that can be done to help.

Am I really that fat?

Most women agree that cravings for salt and sugar lead us to overindulge, increasing our waistline and frequently resulting in indigestion, bloating and distention. Hoping to take a closer look at the problem, the digestive experts at The Enzyme Research Group (ERG), in association with Enzymedica, conducted a survey of U.S. females.i

ERG researchers discovered that an overwhelming 96% of women feel that digestive health is an important issue, and an equal number of women reported some form of digestive issue, including 55% who suffer on a regular basis. Of the 40% of women who said they have been diagnosed with a digestive disorder, Heartburn and GERD topped the list.

These reports mirror a 2006 study published in Gastroenterology Nursing indicating that women with irritable bowel syndrome experience an aggravation of symptoms before or during their menstrual cycle, and digestive complaints such as diarrhea and pain also increase.ii

Indigestion: A Weighty Issue
45% of the women polled by the enzyme researchers said that they consider themselves overweight.

When it comes to digestive health symptoms, many females report feelings of what could be called ‘false’ belly fat. This post-meal pot-belly makes us feel unattractive, less sexy and even embarrassed 84% of women said that bloating affects how our clothing fits, and 74% said that this issue affects their self esteem.

In 2008 the Foundation of the American Gastroenterological Association evaluated the everyday effects of digestive problems on Americans. They found that “nearly half of Americans (46%) say that digestive problems affect their day-to-day lives, preventing them from getting a full night’s sleep, going out to eat, exercising, participating in fun activities and even hanging out with friends.”

Tending to a Tender Tummy
Finding a solution means understanding our body’s natural process of digestion.

Our digestive system uses enzymes to enhance digestion and help turn the food we eat into energy for the body. Produced by the mouth, stomach, pancreas and intestines, and available from raw foods and plant-based dietary supplements, these enzymes include amylase for carbohydrates, lipase for fats, and protease for proteins, and cellulase for fiber.

In their recent survey, the ERG found that 45% of women experienced bloating that cycles with their periods, and nearly a third said that digestive upset was the norm during their period. When asked about trigger foods, the worst offenders noted were imbalanced meals, junk foods, dairy, and fatty meats.

Banish Stubborn Belly Bloat
Practical advice for dealing with digestive dilemmas

Recent statistics published by the American Gastroenterological Association report that almost 60% of people say that they manage their digestive problems by avoiding specific foods, and about 65% indicate that their problems are triggered by eating the wrong types of foods.iii Reducing consumption of trigger foods, particularly those we crave, is a good option.

Not all remedies require dietary modification, however. The ERG reports that 87% of women use dietary supplements, including enzymes and probiotics to aid the digestive process.

Dave Barton, Director of Education for Enzymedica, America’s leading digestive enzyme manufacturer, trains retail staff and consumers how to be supplement savvy about digestion. He shares, “over the past decade we’ve seen the digestive category grow exponentially. What was once a category of purgative laxatives and chalky fiber has grown to include the healthy flora found in yogurt, soothing aids for heartburn and indigestion and the growing market of enzyme rich digestive supplements and functional foods.”

Enzymes, taken in capsule form, can aid digestion and maximize breakdown and assimilation of foods. This reduces stress on our internal metabolism and enzyme producing organs. While special diets can be helpful to those with impaired digestion, some women report digestive distress when incorporating fiber-rich vegetarian foods. With the extra expense of purchasing organic produce and whole grains, the last thing we want is to feel bloated and uncomfortable.

The explanation? Reveals Barton, “fiber rich foods contain lots of plant cellulose and other hard to digest starches. Cellulose is broken down by the cellulase enzyme. As humans, we don’t make cellulase, so our bodies cannot break down fiber. Instead, it is excreted as waste, along the way helping to keep our intestinal tract clean, and providing food for probiotic bacteria. A simple solution is to take an enzyme supplement containing cellulase and various starch digesting enzymes such as alpha-galactosidase and phytase.”

i Enzymedica sponsored the recent survey in association with The Enzyme Research Group. The survey evaluated 113 adult females, age 18 and older, surveying their experience with digestive health issues. The survey was conducted online and in anonymous interview and ran from December 14, 2009 – January 4, 2010.

ii Altman G, Cain KC, Motzer S, Jarrett M, Burr R, Heitkemper M. “Increased symptoms in female IBS patients with dysmenorrhea and PMS.” Gastroenterol Nurs. Jan – Feb 2006. 21 Jul 2007.

iii American Gastroenterological Association, Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition Survey, The Everyday Effects of Digestive Problems, May, 2008. http://www.fdhn.org/digestivehealth/get_the_facts.html referenced December 29, 2009

A long time supporter of the autism community, Enzymedica has invested significantly in both research and education to promote awareness of the diagnosis, and its associated digestive concerns.   The campaign is an interactive invitation and calls on Enzymedica’s retail partners and consumers to join the cause.

Hope in Every Bottle

When customers purchase specially marked bottles of Digest Spectrum, they will discover a unique code on the label thanking them for their purchase, inviting them to www.HopeInEveryBottle.com to activate their donation online.

Once activated, Enzymedica will donate $1 for every 30 count bottle of Digest Spectrum.  For every 90 count bottle the company will contribute $2.^{^} The donation will go to the Autism Hope Alliance (AHA), a nonprofit educational foundation providing hope for families facing autism spectrum disorder diagnoses, through education, funding, and volunteerism.

At www.HopeInEveryBottle.com visitors can read about Autism Hope Alliance projects, watch a live donation counter viewable by state, connect with others via the Hope in Every Bottle Facebook page, and learn more about digestive sensitivities and Digest Spectrum.

Enzymedica Supports the Digestive Needs of the Autism Community

“Common diet modifications for children on the autistic spectrum include gluten-free, casein-free, and the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, along with supportive digestive enzymes,” shares Kristin Selby Gonzalez, Enzymedica’s Director of Autism Education.

Digest Spectrum is the latest addition to the Digest™ product lineup, and the flagship product of the “Hope in Every Bottle” campaign.  Specifically formulated to address multiple food sensitivities, Digest Spectrum offers support for lactose, gluten, casein, and phenol digestion, and is a perfect companion for individuals on restrictive diets.*

With no corn, rice, soy, potato, gluten, casein, sugar, or fillers, Digest Spectrum is the ideal digestive aid for individuals with multiple sensitivities.

Considered America’s #1 Enzyme Brand, Enzymedica’s Digest and Digest Gold are the two top selling digestive enzymes on the US market according to SPINS, a market research and consulting firm for the Natural Products Industry.

To learn more about the campaign, please visit www.hopeineverybottle.com.  To learn more about Digest Spectrum, or other Enzymedica enzyme products, visit www.enzymedica.com.

^{^} Up to $100,000. Must visit www.HopeInEveryBottle.com to activate donation.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.